My Diva Lounge

In today’s fast-paced, high-tech, world, it’s pretty easy to take for granted just how much computers contribute to our daily lives. For most Y2K+ Divas, our computers are extensions of our bodies and minds. They hold the music we listen to; they sync up our calendars with our mobile phones or PDAs; they hold our Christmas list, our address book, our recipes, our resumes, and tell the story of our lives in the digital media (photographs and videos) they store for us. But what would happen if all that was suddenly taken away from us? What would happen if your computer hard drive was suddenly useless from an “unrecoverable” crash? Certainly, you would (at a minimum) get a new hard drive or perhaps even a new computer, reinstall specialty software, reconnect to the internet and try to pick up where you left off. But what about those big pieces of your life that are now lost forever? Losing your data can be like losing a piece of yourself - losing parts of your life - and no Diva should have to ever experience such a loss… not with the incredible decline in cost of the coolest little backup drives you’ve ever seen!

Enter Seagate Technology…

Now every diva can easily back up and take her photos, music, videos, and documents everywhere she goes with the sleek Seagate® “FreeAgent™ Go” portable storage solution (available in many colors, one of which is… of course… PINK). The FreeAgent Go drive offers up to 500 GB of capacity, so you can comfortably store all your files (and we’re pretty sure your computer itself probably does not even have a hard drive that large in it yet). It includes easy-to-use software that lets you automatically back up your data, synchronize files, and encrypt important files and folders. Plus, it’s the world’s first portable hard drive with a convenient desktop dock accessory. Simply pop your drive into the FreeAgent dock whenever you want to access your files—no more fumbling for cables!

Pocket and carry your data with ease thanks to a sleek design—the thinnest portable storage solution on the market. Even the cable folds up compactly. In this case, size really does matter! And less is totally more (appealing, that is)!

Choose from a variety of colors to complement your style (did we mention PINK?).

Enjoy peace of mind with a 5-year limited warranty from the world leader in storage solutions.

You should be able to pick up one of these handy little devices from any BestBuy for between $100 and $200. Divas, this is totally worth the splurge - save your data… save your life!

We’ve found another little gold mine out there for natural and botanically based products! Body & Spirit offers handmade, wonderfully decadent bath and body luxuries that EVERY Diva truly needs. We discovered them through a fellow Diva in Utah and have been hooked on their products ever since. Body & Spirit was twice named the Utah “Best of State” winner for best handcrafted items and now their lovely and delicious bath and body products are available for shipment nationwide through their online store at etsy.com. So what are our favorite picks? We have three favorite scents: Vanilla Gelato (rich, beautiful vanilla scent), Pink Sugar (beyond cotton candy), and Grapefruit Orange (for the Diva who wants to smell simply fresh, flirty, fruitful and edible). We highly recommend their Body Glow grape seed oil & sea salt body polish. This amazing, antioxidant-rich and vitamin-rich scrub will leave you feeling tingly and smooth! Next up, you’ll want to keep that smooth skin feeling soft, supple, and properly moisturized. For this, we recommend their decadent, paraben-free, vegan friendly “Body Yogurt”. Your skin has never felt better! This decadent, luxurious, ultra-rich body cream leaves your skin feeling silky-smooth and intensley moisturized without a heavy greasy feeling. Body & Spirit’s items are all hand prepared by a licensed aesthetician who makes each batch of products with the utmost of care. We are truly in love with their products and know you will be, too! Why not treat yourself to a little decadent pampering today? Visit their online store and place your order before the holiday rush sells them out of these fabulous Diva indulgences!

It’s breast cancer awareness month and we’ve found a few deals to help with the race for the cure. In a previous post, we raved about the new Blackberry Bold coming out. But for those of us who prefer a smaller “footprint” for our electronic necessities, there is a beautiful alternative which could also help to save lives. Telus introduced the Blackberry Pearl 8130 Smartphone in PINK and has teamed up with “Rethink Breast Cancer” to donate $25 from the sale of each phone to help breast cancer research. What better way to show off your Diva style than with a sleek, slim, pink Pearl which also gives back to an organization which helps young people who are affected by breast cancer through education, research, and support programs?

We also found (by browsing around for some of our favorite products online) that several eBay sellers are giving back to charities by donating portions of their proceeds from every sale. Our favorite eyelash conditioning serum underwent a thorough overhaul and I must admit, we were a bit concerned that the new formula would not work as well. It seems there was some big hullabaloo over whether or not prosteglandins are safe for use in cosmetics (as opposed to having to get a prescription), and Beauty Society (formerly Intuit Beauty) decided to pull the formula and reinvent our favorite product. We’re pleased to say that their new formula is better than ever, and now safe for use even by pregnant and nursing women. Our test members (and special thanks to Maddie) tried the new formula with great results, seeing lashes come in faster and grow more evenly. The new tube is twice the size, but don’t let that fool you - you’ll need to use it twice as often (use it morning and night now) for best results. Overall, it’s still a really great value, and the tube will still last you 2-4 months or longer, depending on how fanatical you are about use. We found that “thebeautysociety” on eBay is also giving 10% of proceeds back to the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (whom they have partnered with in the past) on all purchases made through the listings they set up to help fight Breast Cancer. You can click here to go to one of their listings where you can buy Enormous Lash and a donation will be made to Susan G Komen. Beauty Society recently went 100% Paraben-Free with all their products (including Enormous Lash) and have been highlighted on the “Think Before You Pink” website as a result. Big Diva kudos to our Diva sisters at Beauty Society for their efforts toward the cause. Our “MyDivaLounge” coupon still works on their BestLash.com website for those of you within the US who want free shipping on your online orders.

We’re also urging all our Divas to visit the Breast Cancer Site daily (or as often as they can) to help give underprivileged women free mamograms. Simply visit the site, and click on the button that says “Click Here to Give”. It’s free, it’s easy, and it’s simply the Diva thing to do!

For those of you who have seen the Blackberry smartphone craze and wondered if you should join in, September just may be your month! Blackberry is releasing it’s newest phone, the Blackberry Bold and it’s sure to sweep the market! Bold combines a stylish and elegant design with all of the features and functions we’ve all been waiting for in a smartphone. iPhone, you just may have met your match! Bold offers full PDA functionality (calendar, tasks, memos, contacts, etc.), but adds powerful email, faster web browsing, instant messaging, camera, built-in GPS, voice recording, and more! What’s the difference between this and the Blackberry Curve? Enhanced web experience (including wifi access), faster performance with the Bold’s 624-MHz processor, powerful document editing software (for MS Word and PowerPoint), and built-in Mobile Streaming (the ability to view online videos and listen to streaming music) all make this the power phone to get this year! Don’t be left in the dust - get organized in STYLE and GO BOLD.

Here’s a cool gadget I picked up last month and it is a lifesaver when taking notes in meetings, on the go, and away from the computer. It’s the Acecad DigiMemo Digital Notepad. Reviews on it are mixed, but for my needs, it’s an excellent Diva companion tool! It’s a digital notepad with a special pen which uses regular (refillable) paper pads for note taking. The cool thing is, it digitally records the notes you are taking so you can upload them, store them, and view them later on your computer! It even has handwriting recognition software, so you can convert your notes into a MS Word file, a .pdf file, and more! I must admit, I was a little freaked out when I first got it - wondering if I was going to ever learn to use it properly. But this Diva managed to go through the user guide (which was fairly painless as far as manuals are concerned), set up the software, go through the handwriting recognition exercises, and successfully created my own pages the first day! It can digitally manage several pages, and lets you add to older pages as long as they are still in memory. I picked up a 2GB memory card to add to the package, so my little tablet can manage oodles of pages of Diva thoughts. It will even read drawings you create, although I do not recommend using this tablet strictly as an artist’s companion. Highly recommended for the Diva on the go, however, and you should be able to pick one up for $150 to $170 from Wal-Mart, Shop.com, or from Amazon.com online. Where was this when I was in school?!

Oh my, it’s good to be a Diva in the 21st Century! Gadgets galore, and some of which help to keep us on track and on time! Everyone knows I LOVE (and hate) my Blackberry, because it helps to keep me so connected, but I’ve found a NEW obsession - my Garmin Nuvi GPS device. Yes, I’ve given in to the techno monster and believe it or not, it’s saved my Diva tushie on more than one occaision! Garmin Nuvi portable GPS devices run anywhere from $150 to $1,000, depending on the model you purchase. They offer touch-screen capability, are easy to learn and use, and offer clear directions and some pretty cool options. Even a basic model, like the 200 comes with pre-loaded maps of the US, is ready to use right out of the box, allows you to create a route, set “via” points, save favorite places, search local destinations by business name, search for destinations by category (closest ATM/bank, fast food, gas, shopping, etc.), automatically detects day/night to switch the look of the screen depending on time of day, offers several different map views (all with zoom in/out capability), comes with two different car icons for use when navigationg (sedan and truck), comes fully loaded with a TON of languages (I currently have mine set to French, and know a friend who will be tickled when we set hers to Danish), can be used in any vehicle, offers bike path and walking path routes, charges directly from your cigarette lighter adapter in your car, has a battery life of up to five hours of constant navigation, has a “detour” feature if you are stuck in traffic, has clear turn-by-turn voice prompts (with volume control and even mute function), fits easily in any Diva’s purse, and it even comes in… you guessed it: PINK! This mode is fairly inexpensive and the pink one is currently sold exclusively through BestBuy.com for $169.99. Some of the newest models (the 880, for example) offer full bluetooth compatibility with your mobile phone, voice recognition software, and more. But for my money, I’m sticking with my 200. It’s got everything a Diva needs to arrive “in style” wherever she goes!

Hands down winner for The Most Diva Laptop is clearly the Dell Inspiron in (what other color) PINK! This laptop is truly beautiful (look and feel) and a powerful tool for any Diva to add to her arsenal. As we speed into the second half of 2008, prices on Laptop computers have dramatically dropped. You can pick one of these puppies up for only $500 to $800 and look like a Pro wherever you go! Built-in wireless networking, 80GB to 250GB hard drives, high definition sound cards and Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 video card all make this the laptop of any Diva’s (or Divo’s) dreams! They come in a variety of colors and are all equipped with Windows Vista out the door! It’s fast, reliable (goodness knows I toss mine around a lot), and a beautiful piece of art. They are a bit heavy, and I recommend you get a screen protector or privacy screen to keep down the glare on the glossy wide screen… but I must say, for a Diva who lives on the go, I’ve never been happier to take my work with me! You can pick yours out today by shopping online through the Dell website and you can have it in your hot little hands within a couple of weeks! So go ahead and splurge on a laptop that looks as fabulous as it performs. You’re worth it, and you know it!

Another must have for any Diva on the go! The Flip Ultra by Pure Digital is a lightweight, portable digital video camera that fits right in your purse (it’s only about 4″ high by 2″ wide)! So easy, anyone can learn to use it, and with attached USB connector, even the LEAST techno-savvy Diva can learn to point, shoot, and upload videos to her favorite YouTube channel! And it comes in a variety of Diva colors (including, of course, Diva PINK!). This camera will hold a full hour of video, includes a built-in microphone, a tripod mount, a soft case, a wriststrap, takes standard AA batteries, and even includes a cable and connector for viewing movies on your TV right from the Flip! You won’t be able to put yours down once you start filming! This is about the most fun a Diva can have while recording the precious (and scandalous) moments of her life. MSRP runs $129 to $179, and you can pick up yours today in your local Best Buy, Circuit City, K-Mart, Walmart, or Sears. You can also buy online from (another favorite online one-stop shop of mine) Amazon.com. Don’t be left in the dust, get your Flip on today!

We’re pretty thrilled about this post! Since the invention of lipstick, there has not been a better beauty breakthrough than eyelash conditioners. For those of you who have not heard the buzz, these serums help to condition your own natural lashes to come out longer, thicker, darker, stronger, and more beautiful overall. There was some hype last year when notice came from the FDA that they were seizing some lash serums made by Jan Marini, but after further research on the subject, we discovered it was her old formula they were taking, and that all lash serums currently on the US market are perfectly safe for use in cosmetic products. We looked into a lot of different serums, ranging from $25 to $175 and found that only a few actually do what they say they will do (don’t bother with the cheaper serums, Divas, they just won’t do the trick). So is it worth it? How much would you pay for your own natural lashes to look longer and thicker, even without mascara on them? Let’s break the math down on our current favorite, Enormous Lash (formerly Massive Lash) by Beauty Society. Enormous Lash costs $95 for one tube (it’s also the only lash serum on the market that comes with a full 1-year money back satisfaction guarantee). That tube should last (according to our tests) anywhere from three to five months (depending on use). That breaks it down to $20-$30 per month for lashes you’ve always wanted to have. By our standards, that’s well within a Diva’s budget and totally worth it when you consider the fact that you’ll get your money back if you’re not happy with the results!

Lashes will take anywhere from several weeks to several months to reach the desired effect, so make sure you use the entire tube before you judge the results (mine took about three months to start really looking great). We were also pleased to discover that after your first or second tube, you can start using the product every two to three days instead of daily. This brings the “maintenance” fees down to $10-$15 per month (again, depending on use). What Diva can’t afford that? Heck, I’ll skip the Starbucks for two days to pay for longer, sexier natural lashes anytime! This is a powerful product, gals, so make sure you read the instructions, don’t let it get in your eyes (ouch), and be regimental about use (in the beginning, make sure you don’t skip applications). A little goes a long way, so make sure not to slop it on. They have an instructional video posted on YouTube here, for those of you who want to see how to apply properly. You can visit their website to order your own tube at http://www.bestlash.com and enter coupon code “mydivalounge” upon checkout to get free shipping (within the USA) on your order!

I remember my mom always raving about her “Great Lash” mascara, by Maybelline, in the old pink and green tube. I swear, she used to live by that stuff! But as I’m now rapidly approaching my 40s, I found the more common mascaras just weren’t doing the trick anymore. I kicked it up and started buying every expensive mascara I could find on the market - thickening, lengthening, some upwards of $50 per tube! After months of sampling through trial and error, I stumbled upon a great mascara called “Kiss Me” by blinc.

This neat little mascara uses technology that actually coats your lashes with water resistant “tubes” which don’t smudge, clump, or flake, even if you cry! I was thrilled. It took a bit to learn to apply it properly (but what mascara doesn’t require a little “fine tuning”?), but after a few applications, I had it down. My lashes were finally looking darker, thicker, and longer, as they did when I was a teenager. You can usually find “Kiss me” at Sephora, beauty supply stores, and even online for anywhere from $19.99 to $25.00.

Then one night, I had a Diva affair to attend and realized I was staring down the dark hole of an empty tube of “Kiss Me” mascara. In a total panic, I ran to the only store open near me (Longs) and filled up my cart with any mascara I could find. Once I got home (and recovered from the shock of paying so much for so many products I knew I would have to throw away), I was pleasantly surprised by one special product (which, luckily for me, was one of the first I tried on my lashes).

Leave it to good old Maybelline to knock our socks off with a fantastic (and affordable) mascara that really does the trick - Define-a-Lash! Somehow I heard my mother’s voice in the back of my head telling me she told me so. Surprisingly, Maybelline’s Define-a-Lash (which you can score for $3 to $7 in any cosmetic aisle at your local drug store) goes on smooth, doesn’t clump, and gives you fantastic luscious lashes! It even comes in a waterproof version, for those of us who need a bit more “stick” than the average gal (dancing, laughing, crying, partying, etc). My trick is to swipe some on my upper lashes and let it set a bit while I swipe some on the lower lashes. Fix/fidget with the lower lashes while the upper lashes become a bit sticky/tacky as they set (but don’t let it dry between coats). Then pull the wand through your upper lashes for a beautiful and dramatic finish (I learned this trick decades ago while getting a facial - it really works once you get the technique down).

So throw away those expensive tubes of mascara - let your lashes shine in a more natural light with Define-a-Lash! You’ll be looking and feeling younger with your new flirty, fluttering lashes!